Now that DJ tools do a lot of the same things, part of what would prompt you to use one is what you see. And what you see is a lot of what a DJ tool offers.

Serato announced earlier this month that it was overhauling its somewhat fragmented offerings and replacing them with one next-generation alternative: Serato DJ. But the one thing we couldn’t do was see it. We could see the Pioneer hardware designed to go with it, but not the new UI.

That change today, as Serato releases a slew of images of the software, which is due at the beginning of November.

This isn’t just a skin-deep overhaul: the new UI reflects what the software is now about. In fact, it looks like a viable challenger for some of the things Native Instruments’ Traktor offers, presented in a more – well, Serato-y way. And one thing it looks like you’ll get is a lot of control over what you see, with any combination of decks, the library, and effects.

It all looks quite lovely. In fact, with Serato looking so nice, my one and only plea is that it seems Serato desperately needs to offer a solution for people who want to use the software without plugging in the controller hardware. There are countless times I’ve watched DJs prep a set sitting on an airplane or train (in fact, every time I travel now, it seems I spot Ableton or Traktor somewhere), to say nothing of the times you have to squeeze into a small booth. With the software getting a lovely refresh like this, it seems the time is near to unlock the software. (I know, piracy, etc., but… that doesn’t change the need.)

It also occurs to me how nice it’d be to have some of these cue points and waveform views in Ableton Live – not only for doing Live DJ sets, but because having that kind of control and visual feedback is generally useful when playing with sound.

Serato users will see this early next year, unless they spring for the new Pioneer hardware next month. I hope we’ll have a closer look at the new hardware/software combination soon; stay tuned.

Serato DJ with some of those new effects at the ready.

If you want to focus on the library, you can.

You can even run in four-deck mode with waveforms and decks collapsed, and the library still in focus.

The SP-6 module also looks compelling.

Try two decks with vertical waveforms instead of horizontal, if you so choose.

I Have a Question: So does this new version of Serato Have 4 Deck control for ALL OF THEIR CONTROLLERS?? What I mean is: Is the Base version of this new software come with 4 deck usability just like Traktor Does?? Please share.

Expdog

My questions are: do audiences find it problematic that many are DJs are still trying to present themselves like rock bands on stage and demand that kind of attention while their glued to the laptop screen? With Serato and Traktor adding more bells and whistles similar to Ableton Live, is this a push towards more intense focus towards the UI on the screen during a so called performance? If it’s meant to be a performance why do I still see so many DJs at centre stage blocked by the screen, which could very well have their Facebook page on it? Many jump around as if they just made the tune in real-time, why? If it isn’t so much a performance but a musical journey curated by the DJ, would a secluded or ground level booth be better and let the music speak for itself? Do complex UIs make it a performance and more interesting or does it bring on more monitor glaring in a so called performance space?

http://www.facebook.com/wwinfrey Wallace Winfrey

Looking more and more like DJDecks…and Traktor still beats it in both looks & functionality…

wallace

Haven’t seen that shade of blue since windows 95, the bad memories come flooding back…